a love of all things vintage and homemade

So, this week has been all about CALs, and KALs, and MKALs. For those who may not know these are events where groups of crafters all knit or crochet along together – see, Crochet A Long, and so on, so clever and cute, I love it 🙂 And the MKAL is a Mystery Knit A Long – even more fun to be had there, as you don’t know where the pattern will take you…! So the first one I started is the Sophie’s Universe CAL. Parts 1 and 2 were released on Sunday and in the evening I gathered my yarns and hook together, settled down with ‘Call the Midwife’ and a glass of rosé, and began hooking. The instructions are really clear, with a great round by round photo tutorial, and I’m really pleased with how mine came together.

I’m using Stylecraft Special DK with a 4mm hook. Looking forward to the next clue 🙂 Then on Monday a new MKAL began in a group on Ravelry with a pattern from Ysolda Teague. The final piece will be a shawl and mine is in 4ply Stylecraft Life on a 4mm circular needle.

Also this week I’ve been crocheting little hats for premature babies, a charity close to my heart. And it feels good to give something back 🙂 And I’ve started to read ‘Mystery in White’ by J. Jefferson Farjeon, another book I received at Christmas. Happy Friday xx

Like this:

It’s a new life? Well, not quite, but it is a New Year which is like a new life in a way. It brings a fresh start, full of inspiration and new ideas, new projects beginning, and all sorts of good things happening. In the online communities of knitters and crocheters, many new KALs/CALs are springing up, all so tempting that you might find yourself joining in with more than you can handle! So I’m trying not to overstretch myself and, for now (which may only mean this week in truth), I’ve contemplated and considered and finally decided on these…

First, in our crochet group, ‘Stitch Along With Us’, on Facebook, there was an idea to have an afghan CAL in January – no specific pattern, leaving everyone free to choose. I had wanted to start this particular blanket for some time – the not your average crochet as-we-go stripey blanket – and this seemed the perfect time to begin! And this afternoon I’m starting row 29. I’m really pleased with how it’s going so far 🙂

The second project is another CAL, this time in another Facebook group ‘Crochet Mood Blanket 2014’. The idea is to crochet a square every day, or in my case every week, which reflects your mood. Fab idea, I thought, and one square a week is definitely ‘doable’. I did try ‘a square a day’ towards the end of last year but I did not prove to be equal to that task! On the plus side I do now have a reasonable pile of granny squares should I decide to revive that particular project! However, I digress… The mood blanket will be a lot of fun, I think, and I’ve decided to crochet one square for every Wednesday in 2014. That’s 53 squares, so I may have to add in a few extras – special occasion squares maybe – to complete a regular blanket!

The first Wednesday of 2014 was, of course, New Years Day, and so my square is made in a fizzy, sherbety yellow as that is just the sort of day it was 🙂

And so we begin. And there are still a number of WIPs that we won’t mention for now – they’ll be finished eventually!